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Frequently
Asked Questions
Online
CTEFL program
- Will I have to speak "New England English"?
- How long does it usually take to complete the Online CTEFL course?
- Is it really interactive?
- Are there any extra costs besides tuition?
- Is the Boston TEFL course a graded course?
- Is placement assistance available for graduates of the Online CTEFL Program?
- Will you guarantee me a job once I earn the Boston TEFL Certificate?
- How soon after obtaining the Boston TEFL Certificate will I go abraod?
- How much money can I make teaching English abroad?
- Is there any difference between the TEFL certificate earned online and one earned in a resident course?
- Who is responsible for arranging the practice teaching requirement?
- What is the tuition for the Online CTEFL course?
- When can I start the Online CTEFL course?
- Are there tuition payment options?
- Where in the world can I teach?
- What are PDP's
- Can I call the school with questions on the courses?
- Can I get a replacement certificate and transcript if I lose my original documents?
- More Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Will I have to speak "New England" English?
A. Absolutely not. New England or "Boston" accented English is only one style of American English. The beauty of American English is that in the USA and Canada, we have regional accents that are accurate and charming. The North American English accent is the preferred international English in the world today.
Q) How long does it usually take to complete the Online CTEFL course?
A) Online CTEFL interns are part of a class (usually limited to 8 students). Each class will be led by a Faculty Advisor. This online class is 3-weeks in duration (plus the practice teaching requirement). Students are allowed up to six months after the 3-week course period to complete their 6-hour practice teaching requirement.
You may also choose our new Extended Format Course which may be completed at a more relaxed pace. Extended Course Students may take up to 6 months to complete their online coursework. All course requirements, including the practice teaching requirement must be completed within 9 months of enrollment.
Q) Is the Online course really interactive?
A) Yes. Online students and faculty interact daily via an integrated, internet-based discussion forum, a unique Online Campus, your daily lessons, etc. Online Faculty Advisors maintain a regular schedule (Monday-Friday) throughout the three weeks of the course. Additionally, your advisors will be available for assistance during your practice teaching preparation. Other features include a "Live Chat" system. Course Advisors and Interns can "chat" in real-time on a prearranged schedule.
Q) Are there any extra costs besides tuition?
A) No. Although your advisor may recommend various teaching texts during the course, TEFL interns are not required to purchase any additional materials. Online students are responsible for any costs involved in having access to a adequate computer with internet access.
Q. Is the Boston TEFL course a graded course?
A. Yes. Pass A, Pass B, Pass and No Pass are the international standard grades. English language employers know the value of these grades. Pass A and Pass B are the sought after grades. The final exam counts for 10 percent of the grade with practice teaching forming a major part of the grade.
Q) Does the school offer placement guidance to its online graduates?
A) While the school is not a placement agency, our online graduates do receive placement assistance in the form of specific country information, available job postings as available, as well as assistance in preparing your resume / CV during the course. Recommendation letters are provided for those who complete the course with a passing grade.
Q) Will you guarantee me a job once I earn the Boston TEFL Certificate?
A. Although we do offer placement assistance, we do not guarantee employment. One should seriously question any program that offers or guarantees job placement prior to evaluating your teaching abilities. The Boston TEFL course offers an excellent overview of resume preparation, interview techniques, etc., and our graduates have little trouble obtaining teaching positions around the world. Remember, ultimately we can introduce and recommend you to a language school abroad, but you must "carry" the personal interview. Our program helps prepare you to accomplish this task successfully.
Q. How soon after obtaining the Boston TEFL Certificate will I go abraod.
A. Some of our graduates leave to teach abroad within one-week after completing the course. Others choose to stay in their local areas to gain more teaching experience. The average graduate goes abroad six to eight weeks after completing the TEFL Certificate course.
Q. How much money can I make teaching English abroad?
A. Our graduates' salaries average between US$14,000 and US$42,000 depending upon the countries in which they teach. Remember, you pay no US Federal taxes when teaching abroad, thus there are substantial savings to you. Many teaching position packages offer travel, health benefits, and even living accommodations. Contract negotiation is a carefully guided aspect of the Boston TEFL course.
Q) Do I receive an "Online" Certificate?
A) No. Whether you take part in a resident course or an online course, you receive exactly the same TEFL certificate. There is no indication either way.
Q) Who is responsible for arranging the practice teaching requirement?
A) Each course intern (the CTEFL student) is responsible for arranging his/her own practice teaching and observation. Interns will find many opportunities in their areas to fulfill this 6-hour requirement. Interns may begin the practice teaching component after the main three week class period has concluded (for Extended Program Students - you may begin your Practice Teaching upon completion of the online component). Many Interns report that the process of arranging their own practice teaching not only provides a valuable teaching/learning experience (which is a very important part of the Boston TEFL program), but also valuable insight into how the language industry works first-hand. We will provide many suggestions on where to look for teaching opportunities. Interns are also allowed to set up their own classes (with advisor approval). Interns should strive to complete their required practice teaching within 3 - 6 months from the main (3-week) course end date. Feel free to contact the Online Training Office with any questions concerning this component of the course.
Q) What is the tuition for the Online CTEFL course?
A) The standard Online CTEFL class tuition is now only US$995.
Q) When can I start the Online CTEFL course?
A) Our regular Online CTEFL classes start and end on pre-determined dates (see Online Class Schedule). Class size is limited. If there are specific course dates in which you are interested, you should register early to assure your place in the course.
Those who register for the Extended Program Option may usually begin their course within 5 days of enrollment and payment of tuition.
Q) Are there tuition payment options?
A) Due to the short online format, students must pay their tuition in full prior to the first day of class.
Q) Where in the world can I teach?
A) Worldwide Teachers graduates are teaching English in over 85 countries! However, teaching English (ESL) is not just for those who want to travel abroad. Many opportunities are available within the USA as well. If you're more comfortable staying close to home, explore your own community for ESL teaching opportunities. Examples include (but are not limited to) Private Language Schools, Community Colleges, In-house Company Programs (Business English, English for Special Purposes - ESP), College Prep programs and Private Teaching.
Q) Can I call the school with questions on the courses?
A) All course administration and communication is done via e-mail and/or within the Online Campus internal email system, discussion forums and live chat forums. With an international student body and entirely online presence, it is not practical or cost-effective to maintain regular telephone hours within any particular time zone. Online communication also allows us to maintain accurate records of general communication, course mentoring sessions, etc.
Q) What are PDP's
A) PDP is an acronym for Professional Development Points. The school follows the Massachusetts Department of Education guidlines for awarding Professional Development Points for recertification to its graduates. This will most likely not be an important factor to you unless you are currently a licensed K-12 teacher within the USA. For more information on PDP, please visit the Massachusetts D.O.E. guidelines web site - http://www.doe.mass.edu
Please note that the Massachusetts Department of Education no longer maintains a Registered Provider Directory. For details on Department Professional Development Guidelines, please visit their Recertification Page: http://www.doe.mass.edu/recert/2000guidelines/appd.html
The TEFL Certificate Program is presented as a 120-hour program. As this is an online course, this total is an average amount that includes Online Class Time, In-class Assignments, Essay Assignments, Discussion Form Participation, Review Time, Lesson Planning, Lesson Preparation, Practice Teaching Time, Class Administration, Self-Evaluations, etc.
Q) Can I get a replacement certificate and transcript if I've lost my original documents?
A) Yes, please contact the administration office to make this request - support@bostontefl.com - For security purposes, you may be asked to provide detailed information about your original course, advisor, graduation month, year, contact information, etc. Our standard replacement document fee is US$75 and covers records research, certificate engraving, transcript preparation, other supporting documents and postage by USPS within the USA. International postage and/or different shipping method may incur a surcharge.
Resident graduate records prior to May 2003 and Online graduate records prior to January 2001 are maintained in document storage in paper format and will likely take longer to retrieve. Allow 4 - 6 weeks for record retrieval, duplication and shipping.
Please contact the Online Training Office for more information.
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